Das Ende Deuterojesajas

Ever since Bernhard Duhm, Isa 55 is either taken to be the final chapter of Second Isaiah or of a Fortschreibung. Recently though, objections have increased and been raised on various sides. Alexander Weidner shows that this chapter builds a bridge between Isa 54 and Isa 60 although it is actually younger than both of these. Starting with Isa 55, the formation of Isa 40:46-55:60 is primarily considered. The core of Second Isaiah is to be found in 40:12-46:11, while Isa 48:20 is regarded as being considerably younger. The author also shows that chapters 40:48-52:54f have a multi-layered history of development behind them. A final look at the Septuaginta teaches that in many instances, this should not be taken as an imprecise translation, but rather that it not only perceives, but also deliberately smoothes over the places where modern Literarkritik begins.